1
康保裔馬遂董元亨曹覲孔宗旦趙師旦蘇緘秦傳序詹良臣江仲明李若水劉韐傅察楊震父:宗閔張克戩張確朱昭史抗孫益
Kang Baoyi, Ma Sui, Dong Yuanheng, Cao Jin, Kong Zongdan, Zhao Shidan, Su Jian, Qin Chuanxu, Zhan Liangchen, Jiang Zhongming, Li Ruoshui, Liu Ge, Fu Cha, Yang Zhen and his son Zongmin, Zhang Kejian, Zhang Que, Zhu Zhao, Shi Kang, and Sun Yi.
2
士大夫忠義之氣，至於五季，變化殆盡。 宋之初興，范質、王溥，猶有餘憾，況其他哉！ 藝祖首褒韓通，次表衛融，足示意向。 厥後西北疆場之臣，勇於死敵，往往無懼。 真、仁之世，田錫、王禹偁、范仲淹、歐陽修、唐介諸賢，以直言讜論倡於朝，於是中外搢紳知以名節相高，廉恥相尚，盡去五季之陋矣。 故靖康之變，志士投袂，起而勤王，臨難不屈，所在有之。 及宋之亡，忠節相望，班班可書，匡直輔翼之功，蓋非一日之積也。
By the Five Dynasties period, the scholar-official class's spirit of loyalty and righteousness had all but disappeared. Even at the dawn of the Song, men such as Fan Zhi and Wang Pu still fell short of the ideal—what then of lesser men? The founding emperor first honored Han Tong and then enshrined Wei Rong—acts that made his values plain enough. Afterward, officials on the northwestern frontier often showed no fear in dying against the enemy. Under Emperors Zhenzong and Renzong, worthies such as Tian Xi, Wang Yucheng, Fan Zhongyan, Ouyang Xiu, and Tang Jie led the court with blunt, loyal counsel. Officials at home and abroad then came to measure one another by reputation and integrity, and the coarseness of the Five Dynasties was left behind. Thus at the Jingkang crisis, resolute men rose up to rescue the throne, refusing to yield in the face of disaster—examples could be found everywhere. By the time the Song fell, acts of loyal integrity stood in such profusion that they fill the records—virtue that had been building for generations, not forged overnight.
3
奉詔修三史，集儒臣議凡例，前代忠義之士，咸得直書而無諱焉。 然死節、死事，宜有別矣：若敵王所愾，勇往無前，或銜命出疆，或授職守土，或寓官閒居，感激赴義，雖所處不同，論其捐軀徇節，之死靡二，則皆為忠義之上者也； 若勝負不常，陷身俘獲，或慷慨就死，或審義自裁，斯為次矣； 若蒼黃遇難，霣命亂兵，雖疑傷勇，終異苟免，況于國破家亡，主辱臣死，功雖無成，志有足尚者乎！ 若夫世變淪胥，毀跡冥遁，能以貞厲保厥初心，抑又其次歟！ 至於布衣危言，嬰鱗觸諱，志在衛國，遑恤厥躬，及夫鄉曲之英，方外之傑，賈勇蹈義，厥死惟鈞。 以類附從，定為等差，作《忠義傳》。
Ordered to compile the Three Histories, we gathered scholar-officials to set the rules: loyal and righteous men of earlier ages were to be recorded plainly, without concealment. Yet dying for principle and dying in official duty should be distinguished. Those who face the sovereign's enemy without flinching, who go forth on imperial mission abroad, who hold territorial office, or who live in retirement yet rush to duty when moved—all differ in circumstance, yet in giving their lives for principle without wavering they rank among the highest exemplars of loyalty and righteousness; Those whose fortunes waver, who fall captive yet die boldly or, judging what is right, take their own lives, belong to the next rank; Those who perish suddenly amid chaos, though their deaths may seem less glorious, still differ from cowardly survival; and when the state falls and the sovereign is shamed, ministers who die though they cannot save the realm still deserve honor for their intent. When the age collapses and men efface themselves in hidden withdrawal, those who preserve their original integrity through steadfast resolve rank lower still. Commoners who speak perilous truth, local heroes, and men outside official ranks who throw themselves into righteous action—their deaths, too, are weighed on the same scale when their aim is to serve the realm. Grouped by kind and ranked in order, we compose the Biographies of Loyalty and Righteousness.
4
康保裔
Kang Baoyi
5
契丹兵大入，諸將與戰於河間，保裔選精銳赴之，會暮，約詰朝合戰。 遲明，契丹圍之數重，左右勸易甲馳突以出，保裔曰：「臨難無苟免。」 遂決戰。 二日，殺傷甚眾，蹴踐塵深二尺，兵盡矢絕，援不至，遂沒焉。
When the Khitan army invaded in strength, the generals engaged them at Hejian. Baoyi led picked troops to the field; dusk fell, and they agreed to fight at daybreak. At dawn the Khitan had surrounded them in layer after layer. His attendants urged him to change armor and break out, but Baoyi said, "In peril one must not seek a coward's escape." With that he gave battle. For two days the slaughter was immense, and trampled dust rose two feet deep. When his men and arrows were spent and no aid came, he fell.
6
時車駕駐大名，聞之震悼，廢朝二日，贈侍中。 以其子繼英為六宅使、順州刺史，繼彬為洛苑使，繼明為內園副使，幼子繼宗為西頭供奉官，孫惟一為將作監主簿。 繼英等奉告命，謝曰：「臣父不能決勝而死，陛下不以罪其孥幸矣，臣等顧蒙非常之恩！」 因悲涕伏地不能起。 上惻然曰：「爾父死王事，贈賞之典，所宜加厚。」 顧謂左右曰：「保裔父、祖死疆場，身復戰沒，世有忠節，深可嘉也。」 保裔有母年八十四，遣使勞問，賜白金五十兩，封為陳國太夫人，其妻已亡，亦追封河東郡夫人。
The emperor was then at Daming. Shocked and grieved, he suspended court for two days and posthumously made Baoyi Grand Counselor. His son Jiying was appointed Commissioner of the Six Residences and prefect of Shunzhou; Jibin became Luoyuan Commissioner; Jiming, Deputy Commissioner of the Inner Parks; his youngest son Jizong, Western Head Attendant-in-Attendance; and his grandson Weiyi, master of records in the Directorate of Works. Jiying and his brothers received the edict and said, "Our father died without victory; that Your Majesty does not punish his family is mercy enough—how can we accept such extraordinary favor?" They wept and prostrated themselves, unable to rise. The emperor said with compassion, "Your father died in the state's service; his rewards should be all the greater." Turning to his attendants he said, "Baoyi's father and grandfather died on the frontier, and he too fell in battle—a house of loyalty across generations, truly admirable." Baoyi's mother was eighty-four; the emperor sent envoys to console her, gave fifty taels of silver, and enfeoffed her as Grand Lady of Chen. His deceased wife was posthumously made Lady of Hedong Commandery.
7
保裔謹厚好禮，喜賓客，善騎謝，弋飛走無不中。 嘗握矢三十，引滿以射，筈鏑相連而墜，人服其妙。 屢經戰陣，身被七十創。 貸公錢數十萬勞軍，沒後，親吏鬻器玩以償，上知之，乃復厚賜焉。
Baoyi was careful, courteous, and hospitable, skilled in riding and archery; in the hunt he never missed bird or beast. Once he shot thirty arrows in succession, each striking the last so that they fell linked together—a feat men marveled at. He fought in many battles and bore seventy wounds. He had borrowed hundreds of thousands in public funds to reward his troops. After his death his clerks sold his valuables to repay the debt; when the emperor learned of this, he bestowed further gifts.
8
繼英仕至左衛大將軍、貴州團練使，嚴於馭軍，厚於撫宗族，其卒也，家無餘財。
Jiying rose to General of the Left Guard and regimental commander of Guizhou, strict with his troops but generous to his kin; he died leaving no wealth behind.
9
方保裔及契丹血戰，而援兵不至，惟張凝以高陽關路鈴轄領先鋒，李重貴以高陽關行營副都部署率眾策應，遇契丹兵交戰，保裔為敵所覆，重貴與凝赴援，腹背受敵，自申至寅力戰，敵乃退。 當時諸將多失部分，獨重貴、凝全軍還屯，凝議上將士功狀，重貴喟然曰：「大將陷沒，而吾曹計功，何面目也。」 上聞而嘉之。 重貴仕至知鄭州，領播州防禦使，改左羽林軍大將軍致仕。 凝加殿前都虞候，卒，贈彰德軍節度使。
While Baoyi fought the Khitan to the death and no reinforcements came, Zhang Ning of Gaoyang Pass led the vanguard and Li Chonggui the supporting force. When Baoyi was overrun, Chonggui and Ning came to his aid, fought with enemies before and behind from mid-afternoon until dawn, and drove the Khitan back. Most generals had lost men, but Chonggui and Ning brought their forces back intact. When Ning proposed reporting their soldiers' merits, Chonggui sighed and said, "Our commander has fallen—how can we claim credit?" The emperor heard and praised him. Chonggui rose to prefect of Zhengzhou and defense commissioner of Bozhou, then retired as Grand General of the Left Forest Army. Ning was made Chief Commandant of the Palace Front; at his death he was posthumously named military commissioner of the Zhangde army.
10
馬遂，開封人。 初隸龍衛軍，補散直，改三班奉職，為北京指使。 聞王則叛，中夜叱吒，晨起詣留守賈昌朝請擊賊。 昌朝因使持榜入貝州招降，則盛服見之，遂諭以禍福，輒不答。 遂將殺則，而無兵仗自隨。 時張得一在側，欲其助己，目得一，得一不動。 遂奮起，投杯抵則，扼其喉，驅之流血，而左右卒無助之者。 賊黨攢刃聚噪至，斷一臂，猶詈則曰：「妖賊，恨不斬汝萬段！」 賊縛遂廳事前，支解之。 則倉猝被驅駭，傷病數日乃起。
Ma Sui was from Kaifeng. He first served in the Dragon Guard, then as irregular attendant and Third-Rank Attendant-in-Service, and became Beijing commissioner. When he heard that Wang Ze had rebelled, he roused himself in the night; at dawn he went to the regent Jia Changchao and asked to attack the rebels. Changchao sent him into Beizhou with a surrender proclamation. Wang Ze received him in full regalia; Sui urged him on the consequences of rebellion, but Ze would not reply. Sui meant to kill Ze, but had brought no weapon. Zhang Deyi stood beside him; Sui looked to him for help, but Deyi did not stir. Sui sprang up, hurled a cup at Ze, seized his throat, and drew blood—but no one at hand came to his aid. Rebels rushed in with blades, cut off his arm, yet he still cursed Ze: "Demon rebel—I wish I could hack you to pieces!" They bound him before the hall and dismembered him. Ze, shaken and wounded in the struggle, was ill for days before he could rise.
11
事聞，仁宗歎息久之，贈宮苑使，封其妻為旌忠縣君，賜冠帔，官其子五人。 後得殺遂者驍捷卒石慶，使其子剖心而祭之。
When word reached the court, Renzong sighed long. He posthumously made Sui Palace Park Commissioner, enfeoffed his wife as Lady of Jingzhong County, granted her court dress, and gave office to his five sons. Later they captured Shi Qing of the Brave and Nimble Corps, who had killed Sui, and had Sui's son cut out his heart as an offering.
12
董元亨
Dong Yuanheng
13
董元亨，深州束鹿人。 累官至國子博士，通判貝州。 王則據城叛，是日冬至，元亨方與州將張得一朝謁天慶觀，夜漏未盡，變起倉猝，眾莫知所為。 元亨促馬馳還，坐廳事，賊党十餘人擐甲露刃，排闥而入，左右皆奔潰。 賊脅元亨曰：「大王遣我來索軍資庫鑰。」 元亨據案叱之曰：「大王誰也，妖賊乃敢弄兵乎！ 我有死耳，鑰不可得也。」 賊將郝用繼來，索愈急，曰：「庫帑，今日大王所有也，可不上鑰乎！」 元亨厲聲張目罵賊，用遂殺之，賊爭入，攜鑰而去。 事聞，仁宗曰：「守法之臣也。」 贈太常少卿，錄其子孫三人。 賊平，獲郝用，斬以祭元亨。
Dong Yuanheng was from Shulu in Shenzhou. He rose to Erudite of the Imperial University and served as vice-prefect of Beizhou. Wang Ze seized the city in rebellion. It was the winter solstice; Yuanheng had been at morning rites at Tianqing Abbey with Zhang Deyi when, before dawn, the revolt broke out and no one knew what to do. Yuanheng rode back at once and took his seat in the hall. A dozen rebels in armor burst in with drawn blades; his attendants fled. The rebels threatened him: "The Great King sent us for the keys to the military stores." Yuanheng struck the desk and shouted, "Who is this Great King? A demon rebel dares raise arms! I have only death to offer—you shall not have the keys." The rebel officer Hao Yong came next and pressed harder: "The treasury is the Great King's now—will you not surrender the keys?" Yuanheng cursed them with blazing eyes; Yong killed him, and the rebels rushed in and seized the keys. When word reached the court, Renzong said, "A minister who upheld the law." He was posthumously made Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and three of his descendants were given office. When the rebellion was crushed, Hao Yong was captured and executed as an offering to Yuanheng.
14
曹覲，字仲賓，曹修禮子也。 叔修古卒，無子，天章閣待制杜杞為言於朝，授覲建州司戶參軍，為修古後。 皇祐中，以太子中舍知封州。 儂智高叛，攻陷邕管，趨廣州。 行至封州，州人未嘗知兵，士卒才百人，不任戰鬥，又無城隍以守，或勸覲遁去，覲正色叱之曰：「吾守臣也，有死而已，敢言避賊者斬。」 麾都監陳曄引兵迎擊賊，封川令率鄉丁、弓手繼進。 賊眾數百倍，曄兵敗走，鄉丁亦潰。 覲率從卒決戰不勝，被執。 賊戒勿殺，捽使拜，且誘之曰：「從我，得美官，付汝兵柄，以女妻汝。」 覲不肯拜，且詈曰：「人臣惟北面拜天子，我豈從爾苟生邪！ 速殺我，幸矣。」 賊猶惜不殺，徙置舟中，覲不食者兩日，探懷中印章授其從卒曰：「我且死，若求間道以此上官。」 賊知其無降意，害之。 至死詬賊聲不絕，投屍江中，時年三十五。 事聞，贈太常少卿，錄其子四人，妻劉避賊死于林峒，追封彭城郡君，加賜冠帔。 又贈修古尚書工部侍郎，封修古妻陳潁川郡君。
Cao Jin, styled Zhongbin, was the son of Cao Xiuli. When his uncle Xiugu died childless, Du Qi of the Hanlin spoke for Jin at court; Jin was appointed registrar of Jianzhou and made Xiugu's heir. During the Huangyou era he governed Fengzhou as Middle Household Attendant of the Heir Apparent. When Nong Zhigao rebelled, he seized Yong and Guan and marched on Guangzhou. When the rebels reached Fengzhou, the people had never seen war; there were barely a hundred soldiers, no walls to defend, and some urged Jin to flee. He rebuked them sternly: "I am the guardian of this prefecture—I have only death to offer. Whoever speaks of flight shall die." He ordered Commandant Chen Ye to meet the enemy, and the magistrate of Fengchuan led local militia and archers in support. The rebels outnumbered them many times over; Chen Ye's force was routed and the militia scattered. Jin led his remaining men in a last stand but was captured. The rebels forbade his execution, forced him to bow, and tempted him: "Join us and you shall have high office, command of troops, and a wife from among our people." Jin refused to bow and cursed them: "A minister bows only to the Son of Heaven facing north—would I live in shame with you? Kill me at once—that would be mercy." The rebels still spared him and put him aboard a boat. He fasted for two days, then took the seal from his robe and gave it to his attendant: "I am dying. If you find a way out, take this to the authorities." Seeing he would not yield, they killed him. He cursed the rebels without cease until death; they threw his body into the river. He was thirty-five. When word reached the court, he was posthumously made Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices; four sons were given office. His wife Liu died fleeing the rebels in the hills and was posthumously made Lady of Pengcheng Commandery with court dress. Xiugu was posthumously made Vice Minister of Works, and his wife Chen was enfeoffed Lady of Yingchuan Commandery.
15
當智高之反，乘嶺南無備，州縣吏往往望風竄匿，故賊所向輒下，獨覲與孔宗旦、趙師旦能以死守。 後田瑜安撫廣南，乃為覲立廟封州。
When Zhigao rebelled, Lingnan was unprepared and officials often fled at the first rumor; the rebels took city after city—only Jin, Kong Zongdan, and Zhao Shidan held their posts unto death. Later, when Tian Yu pacified Guangnan, a temple to Jin was raised in Fengzhou.
16
孔宗旦
Kong Zongdan
17
孔宗旦，魯人，為邕州司戶參軍。 儂智高未反時，州有白氣出庭中，江水溢，宗旦以為兵象，度智高必反，以書告知州陳珙，珙不聽。 後智高破橫州，即載其親往桂州，曰：「吾有官守，不得去，無為俱死也。」 既而州破被執，賊欲任以事，宗旦叱賊，且大罵，遂被害。 始，宗旦官京東，與李師道、徐程、尚同等四人為監司耳目，號為「四瞠」，人多惡之，其後立節如此。 知袁州祖無擇以其事聞，贈太子中允。
Kong Zongdan was from Lu and served as registrar of Yongzhou. Before Zhigao rebelled, white vapor rose in the prefectural courtyard and the river flooded. Zongdan read these as signs of war and warned Prefect Chen Gong in writing that Zhigao would rebel, but Gong would not listen. When Zhigao took Hengzhou, Zongdan sent his family to Guizhou, saying, "I hold office here and cannot leave—do not die with me." When the city fell he was captured. The rebels wished to employ him, but he rebuked and cursed them until they killed him. Earlier, while serving in Jingdong, he and Li Shidao, Xu Cheng, Shang Tong, and others had been informants for the supervisory commissioners—called the "Four Staring Eyes"—and were widely hated; yet in the end he showed such integrity. Zu Wuse, prefect of Yuanzhou, reported his deeds, and Zongdan was posthumously made Palace Attendant of the Heir Apparent.
18
趙師旦
Zhao Shidan
19
趙師旦字潛叔，樞密副使稹之從子。 美容儀，身長六尺。 少年頗涉書史，尤刻意刑名之學。 用稹蔭，試將作監主簿，累遷甯海軍節度推官。 知江山縣，斷治出己，吏不能得民一錢，棄物道上，人無敢取。 以薦者改大理寺丞、知彭城縣，遷太子右贊善大夫，移知康州。
Zhao Shidan, styled Qianshu, was the nephew of Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs Zhen. He was handsome in bearing and six feet tall. In youth he read widely in history and devoted himself especially to penal law. Through Zhen's privilege he entered service as master of records in the Directorate of Works and rose to investigating officer of the Ninghai army. As magistrate of Jiangshan he judged by his own lights; his clerks could not extort a single coin from the people, and goods left on the road went untouched. Recommended for merit, he became aide in the Court of Judicial Review and magistrate of Pengcheng, then Right Supporter-in-Attendance of the Heir Apparent, and was transferred to govern Kangzhou.
20
儂智高破邕州，順流東下，師旦使人覘賊，還報曰：「諸州守皆棄城走矣！」 師旦叱曰：「汝亦欲吾走矣。」 乃大索，得諜者三人，斬以徇。 而賊已薄城下，師旦止有兵三百，開門迎戰，殺數十人。 會暮，賊稍卻，師旦語其妻，取州印佩之，使負其子以匿，曰：「明日賊必大至，吾知不敵，然不可以去，爾留，死無益也。」 遂與監押馬貴部士卒固守州城。 召貴食，貴不能食，師旦獨飽如平時； 至夜，貴臥不安席，師旦即臥內大鼾。 遲明，賊攻城愈急，左右請少避，師旦曰：「戰死與戮死何如？」 眾皆曰：「願為國家死。」 至城破無一人逃者。 矢盡，與貴俱還，據堂而坐。 智高麾兵鼓噪爭入，脅師旦，師旦大罵曰：「餓獠，朝廷負若何事，乃敢反邪！ 天子發一校兵，汝無遺類矣。」 智高怒，並貴害之。 賊既去，州人為立廟。 事平，贈光祿少卿，賜其母王長安縣太君冠帔，錄其子弟並從子三人。 師旦遇害時，年四十二。 柩過江山，江山之人迎師旦喪，哭祭于路，絡繹數百里不絕。
When Zhigao took Yongzhou and marched downstream, Shidan sent scouts who returned reporting, "Every prefect along the river has abandoned his city and fled!" Shidan rebuked them: "Do you want me to flee as well?" He searched thoroughly, found three spies, and executed them as a warning. The rebels were already at the walls. Shidan had only three hundred men; he opened the gates, met them in battle, and killed dozens. At dusk the rebels drew back. Shidan told his wife to take the prefectural seal, hide with their son, and said, "Tomorrow they will come in force. I know we cannot win, yet I cannot flee. If you stay, you will die for nothing." He then joined Supervisory Commissioner Ma Gui in holding the city. Shidan summoned Ma Gui to eat. Gui could not eat, but Shidan alone ate his fill as usual. That night Ma Gui tossed sleeplessly on his bed, while Shidan lay down at once and slept heavily, snoring. At daybreak the rebels pressed the attack harder. His attendants urged him to withdraw somewhat. Shidan said, "What is the difference between dying in battle and dying by execution?" All replied, "We are willing to die for the realm." When the city fell, not a single man fled. When their arrows were spent, he and Ma Gui withdrew to the hall and sat down. Zhigao waved his troops forward in a roaring rush. They seized Shidan, and he cursed them: "You starving savages! What wrong has the court ever done you, that you dare rebel? If the emperor sends one regiment, not one of you will survive." Enraged, Zhigao had both of them killed. After the rebels left, the people of the prefecture built a temple in his honor. When order was restored, he was posthumously made Vice Director of the Imperial Household; his mother, Lady Wang, was granted the rank of Lady of Chang'an County with ceremonial cap and sash; and his sons, younger brothers, and three nephews were given official appointments. Shidan was forty-two when he was killed. When his coffin passed through Jiangshan, the people of that county came out to receive his funeral train, weeping and offering sacrifice along the road for hundreds of li without end.
21
同時有王從政者，以東頭供奉官、閣門祗候，與儂智高戰于太平場，被執，罵賊不已，至以沸湯沃之，終不屈而死。 贈信州刺史，錄其孫二人。
At the same time one Wang Congzheng, an Eastern Head Presentation Officer and Palace Gate Usher, fought Zhigao at Taiping Field. Captured, he kept cursing the rebels; they poured boiling water over him, yet he never yielded and died. He was posthumously made prefect of Xinzhou, and two grandsons were given official appointments.
22
蘇緘，字宣甫，泉州晉江人。 舉進士，調廣州南海主簿。 州領蕃舶，每商至，則擇官閱實其貲，商皆豪家大姓，習以客禮見主者，緘以選往，商樊氏輒升階就席，緘詰而杖之。 樊訴於州，州召責緘，緘曰：「主簿雖卑，邑官也，商雖富，部民也，邑官杖部民，有何不可？」 州不能詰。 再調陽武尉，劇盜李囊橐於民，賊曹莫能捕。 緘訪得其處，萃眾大索，火旁舍以迫之。 李從中逸出，緘馳馬逐，斬其首送府。 府尹賈昌朝驚曰：「儒者乃爾輕生邪！」 累遷秘書丞，知英州。
Su Jian, styled Xuanfu, was from Jinjiang in Quanzhou. He passed the jinshi examination and was appointed chief clerk of Nanhai in Guangzhou. Guangzhou oversaw foreign shipping, and when merchants arrived an official was assigned to inspect their cargo. These merchants were wealthy powerful families accustomed to being received as guests. When Jian was sent to perform this duty, a merchant surnamed Fan walked straight up and took a seat. Jian questioned him and beat him with a staff. Fan complained to the prefecture, which summoned and rebuked Jian. Jian said, "The chief clerk's rank is low, but he is an officer of the district. The merchant is rich, but he is a subject of the district. What is wrong with a district officer beating a district subject?" The prefecture had no answer. Reassigned as commandant of Yangwu, he faced a notorious bandit named Li who robbed the people, and the police could not catch him. Jian tracked him down, gathered men for a thorough search, and set fire to a neighboring house to flush him out. Li broke out from the middle of the search. Jian chased him on horseback, cut off his head, and sent it to the prefectural office. Prefect Jia Changchao exclaimed in astonishment, "Would a scholar really risk his life like this?" He rose through successive posts to secretary in the Archive and prefect of Yingzhou.
23
儂智高圍廣，緘曰：「廣，吾都府也，且去州近，今城危在旦暮而不往救，非義也。」 即募士數千人，委印于提點刑獄鮑軻，夜行赴難，去廣二十里止營。 廣人黃師宓陷賊中，為之謀主，緘擒斬其父。 群不逞並緣為盜，復捕殺六十餘人，招其詿誤者六千八百人，使復業。 賊勢沮，將解去，緘分兵先扼其歸路，布槎木亙四十里。 賊至不得前，乃繞出數舍渡江，由連、賀而西。 緘與賊戰，摧傷甚眾，盡得其所掠物。 時諸將皆罷，獨緘有功，仁宗喜，換為供備庫副使、廣東都監，管押兩路兵甲，遣中使賜朝衣、金帶。 襲賊至邕，大將陳曙以失律誅，緘亦貶房州司馬。 復著作佐郎，監越州稅十餘年，始還副使。 知廉州，屋多茅竹，戍卒楊禧醉焚營，延燒民廬，因乘以為竊，緘戮之於市，又坐謫潭州都監。 未幾，知鼎州。
When Zhigao besieged Guang, Jian said, "Guang is my superior prefecture and lies close to my post. The city may fall at any moment, and not to go to its aid would be unrighteous." He immediately raised several thousand men, entrusted his seal to Circuit Intendant for Penal Affairs Bao Ke, marched through the night to the rescue, and camped twenty li from Guang. Huang Shimi of Guang had joined the rebels as their chief strategist. Jian captured and executed his father. Mobs of ruffians took advantage of the turmoil to turn bandit. He captured and killed more than sixty and summoned back more than six thousand eight hundred who had been misled, restoring them to their trades. When rebel momentum faltered and they prepared to withdraw, Jian sent detachments to cut off their retreat, blocking the route with rafts and logs for forty li. Blocked from advancing, the rebels detoured several miles, crossed the river, and fled west through Lian and He. Jian fought them, inflicting heavy casualties and recovering all their loot. When the other generals were dismissed, Jian alone had distinguished himself. Emperor Renzong was pleased and transferred him to Deputy Commissioner of the Supplies-Preparedness Vault and Guangdong Chief Inspector, placing him in charge of military equipment for both circuits; an imperial envoy was sent with court robes and a gold belt. When the rebels struck Yong, the commanding general Chen Shu was executed for disciplinary failure, and Jian was demoted to military aide of Fangzhou. Restored as editorial assistant, he oversaw Yuezhou's taxes for more than ten years before recovering his deputy commissioner rank. As prefect of Lianzhou, where buildings were mostly bamboo and thatch, garrison soldier Yang Xi, drunk, set fire to the camp; the blaze spread to civilians' homes, and he looted amid the chaos. Jian had him executed in the market, but was himself demoted to Chief Inspector of Tanzhou. Before long he was made prefect of Dingzhou.
24
熙甯初，進如京使、廣東鈴轄。 四年，交阯謀入寇，以緘為皇城使知邕州。 緘伺得實，以書抵知桂州沈起，起不以為意。 及劉彝代起，緘致書於彝，請罷所行事。 彝不聽，反移文責緘沮議，令勿得輒言。 八年，蠻遂入寇，眾號八萬，陷欽、廉，破邕四砦。 緘聞其至，閱州兵得二千八百，召僚吏與郡人之材者，授以方略，勒部隊，使分地自守。 民驚震四出，緘悉出官帑及私藏示之曰：「吾兵械既具，蓄聚不乏，今賊已薄城，宜固守以遲外援。 若一人舉足，則群心搖矣，幸聽吾言，敢越佚則孥戮汝。」 有大校翟績潛出，斬以徇，由是上下脅息。 緘子子元為桂州司戶，因公事攜妻子來省，欲還而寇至。 緘念人不可戶曉，必以郡守家出城，乃獨遣子元，留其妻子。 選勇士拿舟逆戰，斬蠻酋二。
Early in the Xining era he was promoted to Capital Envoy and Guangdong Controller. In the fourth year, Jiaozhi plotted an invasion, and Jian was made Imperial City Envoy and prefect of Yongzhou. Jian confirmed the intelligence and wrote to Shen Qi, prefect of Guizhou, but Qi paid no attention. When Liu Yi replaced Qi, Jian wrote to Yi asking him to halt the project. Yi refused and instead issued an official rebuke, accusing Jian of obstructing policy and forbidding him to speak out again. In the eighth year the barbarians invaded in force, claiming eighty thousand men. They took Qin and Lian and overran four Yong forts. Hearing of their approach, Jian mustered twenty-eight hundred prefectural troops, summoned capable officials and local men, instructed them in strategy, and deployed the units to defend separate sectors. The people panicked and fled in all directions. Jian displayed the official treasury and his private stores and said, "Our arms are ready and our supplies ample. The enemy is at the walls; we must hold firm and wait for relief. If even one person runs, every heart will fail. Obey me: anyone who tries to flee will be executed, along with his family." A major commander named Zhai Ji tried to slip away; Jian beheaded him as a warning, and from then on none dared stir. Jian's son Ziyuan, registrar of Guizhou, had come on official business with his wife and children to visit; he wished to return, but the invaders arrived. Jian knew he could not reason with every household and that if the prefect's family fled the city, morale would collapse. He sent Ziyuan out alone and kept his wife and children. He picked brave men to take boats and fight upstream, killing two barbarian chiefs.
25
邕既受圍，緘晝夜行勞士卒，發神臂弓射賊，所殪甚眾。 緘初求救于劉彝，彝遣將張守節救之，逗遛不進。 緘又以蠟書告急于提點刑獄宋球，球得書驚泣，督守節。 守節皇恐，遽移屯大夾嶺，回保昆侖關，猝遇賊，不及陣，舉軍皆覆。 蠻獲北軍，知其善攻城，啖以利，使為雲梯，又為攻濠洞子，蒙以華布，緘悉焚之。 蠻計已窮，將引去，而知外援不至，或教賊囊土傅城者，頃刻高數丈，蟻附而登，城遂陷。 緘猶領傷卒馳騎戰愈厲，而力不敵，乃曰：「吾義不死賊手。」 亟還州治，殺其家三十六人，藏於坎，縱火自焚。 蠻至，求屍皆不得，屠郡民五萬餘人，率百人為一積，凡五百八十餘積，隤三州城以填江。 邕被圍四十二日，糧盡泉涸，人吸漚麻水以濟渴，多病下痢，相枕藉以死，然訖無一叛者。
Once Yong was besieged, Jian day and night encouraged his troops and used divine-arm crossbows against the rebels, killing many. Jian first asked Liu Yi for help. Yi sent General Zhang Shoujie, but Zhang dallied and would not advance. Jian also sent an urgent message in a wax-sealed letter to Circuit Intendant Song Qiu. Qiu wept when he read it and pressed Shoujie to march. Shoujie panicked, hurried to Great Jia Ridge, and fell back to defend Kunlun Pass. He suddenly met the enemy, had no time to form ranks, and his entire force was wiped out. The barbarians captured Song troops skilled at siege, bribed them to build scaling ladders and covered trench-assault engines, and Jian burned them all. Their plans exhausted, the barbarians were about to withdraw until they learned no relief was coming. Someone showed them how to fill sacks with earth and pile them against the wall; within moments the mound rose several zhang. They swarmed up like ants, and the city fell. Jian still led his wounded men in fierce mounted combat but could not prevail. He said, "Righteousness forbids that I die in the enemy's hands." He hurried back to the prefectural seat, killed thirty-six members of his household, hid their bodies in a pit, and set himself on fire. When the barbarians arrived they could find no bodies. They slaughtered more than fifty thousand people of the prefecture, stacked the dead in piles of a hundred—more than five hundred eighty piles in all—and demolished three circuit cities to fill the river. Yong was besieged for forty-two days. Food ran out and the springs dried up; people drank fermented hemp water to quench thirst; dysentery killed them in heaps; yet not one man defected.
26
緘憤沈起、劉彝致寇，又不救患，欲上疏論之。 屬道梗不通，乃榜其罪于市，冀朝廷得聞焉。 神宗聞緘死，嗟悼，贈奉國軍節度使，諡曰忠勇，賜都城甲第五、鄉里上田十頃，聽其家自擇。 以子元為西頭供奉官、閣門祗候，召對，謂曰：「邕管賴卿父守禦，儻如欽、廉即破，則賊乘勝奔突，桂、象皆不得保矣。 昔張巡、許遠以睢陽蔽遮江、淮，較之卿父，不能過也。」 改授殿中丞，通判邕州。 次子子明、子正，孫廣淵、直溫，與緘同死，皆褒贈焉。 起與彝皆坐謫官。 緘沒後，交人謀寇桂州，行數舍，其眾見大兵從北來，呼曰：「蘇皇城領兵來報怨。」 懼而引歸。 邕人為緘立祠，元祐中賜額懷忠。
Jian blamed Shen Qi and Liu Yi for bringing on the invasion and failing to send relief, and wished to memorialize the throne. With roads blocked he could not reach the capital, so he posted their crimes in the marketplace, hoping word would reach the court. When Emperor Shenzong learned of Jian's death he mourned him deeply. Jian was posthumously made military commissioner of the Fengguo Army with the posthumous title Loyal and Brave. The court granted his family five mansions in the capital and ten qing of premium farmland at home, to be chosen as they wished. Ziyuan was made Western Head Presentation Officer and Palace Gate Usher and summoned to audience. The emperor said, "Yong survived because your father held it. Had it fallen as quickly as Qin and Lian, the enemy would have surged forward and neither Gui nor Xiang could have been saved. Zhang Xun and Xu Yuan once held Suiyang and shielded the Yangzi and Huai regions. Your father ranks no lower than they." Ziyuan was appointed Palace Assistant-in-Censorate and vice-prefect of Yongzhou. The second sons Ziming and Zizheng and grandsons Guangyuan and Zhiven died with Jian and were all posthumously honored. Shen Qi and Liu Yi were both demoted. After Jian's death the people of Jiaozhi plotted to invade Guizhou. After marching several miles their troops saw a great army approaching from the north and cried, "Imperial City Envoy Su leads an army to avenge himself!" Terrified, they turned back. The people of Yong built a shrine to Jian; in the Yuanyou era it was granted the plaque name Cherishing Loyalty.
27
秦傳序
Qin Chuanxu
28
秦傳序，江寧人。 淳化五年，充夔峽巡檢使。 李順之亂，賊眾奄至，傅夔州城下，傳序督士卒晝夜拒戰，嬰城既久，危蹙日甚，長吏皆奔竄投賊。 傳序謂士卒曰：「吾為監軍，盡死節以守城，吾之職也，安可苟免乎！」 城中乏食，傳序出囊橐服玩，盡市酒肉以犒士卒，慰勉之，眾皆感泣力戰。 傳序度力不能拒，乃為蠟書遣人間道上言：「臣盡死力，誓不降賊。」 城壞，傳序赴火死。
Qin Chuanxu was from Jiangning. In the fifth year of Chunhua he served as inspector of the Kui and Xia passes. During Li Shun's rebellion rebel forces suddenly appeared before Kuizhou. Chuanxu led his troops in day-and-night defense. As the siege wore on and danger mounted, the senior officials all fled and joined the rebels. Chuanxu told his troops, "I am the supervisory commissioner. To die holding this city is my duty. How can I seek to save myself?" Food ran short. Chuanxu sold his personal belongings for wine and meat to reward his men, encouraged them, and all wept as they fought on. Seeing resistance was hopeless, he sent a wax-sealed letter by a secret route: "Your servant will fight to the death and vows never to surrender." When the walls collapsed, Chuanxu threw himself into the flames and died.
29
傳序家寄荊湖間，子奭溯峽求父屍，溺死。 人以為父死于忠，子死於孝。 奏至，太宗嗟惻久之，錄傳序次子煦為殿直，以錢十萬賜其家。 煦卒，復以煦弟昉為三班奉職。
Chuanxu's family lived in the Jing-Hu region. His son Shi went upriver through the gorges searching for his father's body and drowned. People said the father had died for loyalty and the son for filial piety. When the report reached court, Emperor Taizong mourned him deeply. Chuanxu's second son Xu was given office as a palace guard, and one hundred thousand cash was granted to the family. When Xu died, his younger brother Fang was appointed a Three-Rank Attendant.
30
詹良臣
Zhan Liangchen
31
詹良臣，字元公，睦州分水人。 舉進士不第，以恩得官，調縉雲縣尉。 方臘起，其党洪再犯處州，守貳俱棄城遁。 又有他盜霍成富者，用臘年號，剽掠縉雲。 良臣曰：「捕盜，尉職也，縱不勝，敢愛死乎？」 率弓兵數十人出禦之，為所執。 成富誘使降，良臣曰：「汝輩不知求生，顧欲降我邪！ 昔年李順反于蜀，王倫反于淮南，王則反于貝州，身首橫分，妻子與同惡，無少長皆誅死，旦暮官軍至，汝肉飼狗鼠矣。」 賊怒，臠其肉，使自啖之。 良臣吐且罵，至死不絕聲，見者掩面流涕，時年七十二。 徽宗聞而傷之，贈通直郎，官其子孫二人。
Zhan Liangchen, styled Yuangong, was from Fenshui in Muzhou. He failed the jinshi examination, received office by privilege, and was appointed commandant of Jinyun County. When Fang La rebelled, his follower Hong again attacked Chuzhou; the prefect and vice-prefect both abandoned the city and fled. Another bandit, Huo Chenfu, adopted La's reign title and raided Jinyun. Liangchen said, "Catching bandits is a commandant's duty. Even if I cannot win, how can I shrink from death?" He led several dozen archers out to fight and was captured. Chenfu tried to win him over. Liangchen said, "You fools do not know enough to save your own lives, yet you think you can make me surrender? Li Shun rebelled in Shu, Wang Lun in Huainan, Wang Ze in Beizhou—they were torn limb from limb, and their families and accomplices, young and old, were all executed. The imperial army will come any day, and your flesh will feed the dogs and rats." Enraged, the rebels cut flesh from his body and forced him to eat it. Liangchen spat and cursed without cease until he died. Onlookers covered their faces and wept. He was seventy-two. When Emperor Huizong heard of it he was deeply grieved. Liangchen was posthumously made Direct Attendant, and two of his descendants were given official appointments.
32
江仲明
Jiang Zhongming
33
江仲明，台州人。 宣和寇亂，載老母逃山澗中，猝遇寇於東城之岡，逼使就降，仲明義不辱，奮起罵賊，卒死之，丞相呂賾浩誄以文。
Jiang Zhongming was from Taizhou. During the bandit turmoil of the Xuanhe era he fled with his elderly mother into the mountains. He suddenly met bandits on the hill east of the city. They forced him to surrender, but Zhongming, unwilling to suffer disgrace, rose up cursing them and was killed. Chancellor Lü Yihao composed a eulogy for him.
34
有蔣煜者，州之仙居人，有文學。 寇欲妻以女，煜拒之，脅以拜，亦不從，寇曰：「吾戮汝矣！」 煜伸頸就刃，詈聲不絕而死。
There was one Jiang Yu, a man of Xianju in the prefecture, learned in letters. The bandits wished to marry him to a daughter; Yu refused. They threatened him to bow, but he still would not comply. The bandits said, "I will kill you!" Yu thrust out his neck to the blade and died cursing without pause.
35
李若水
Li Ruoshui
36
李若水，字清卿，洺州曲周人，元名若冰。 上舍登第，調元城尉、平陽府司錄。 試學官第一，濟南教授，除太學博士。 蔡京晚復相，子絛用事，李邦彥不平，欲謝病去。 若水為言：「大臣以道事君，不可則止，胡不取決上前，使去就之義，暴於天下。 顧可默默托疾而退，使天下有伴食之譏邪？」 又言：「積蠹已久，致理惟難。 建裁損而邦用未豐，省科徭而民力猶困，權貴抑而益橫，仕流濫而莫澄。 正宜置驛求賢，解榻待士，采其寸長遠見，以興治功。」 凡十數端，皆深中時病，邦彥不悅。
Li Ruoshui, styled Qingqing, was from Quzhou in Mozhou; he had originally been named Ruobing. He passed the Upper Hall examination and was appointed commandant of Yuancheng and recorder of Pingyang Prefecture. He placed first in the academic official examination, served as instructor at Jinan, and was appointed Erudite of the Imperial University. When Cai Jing returned to the chief councilorship in his later years, his son Cai Tiao held sway; Li Bangyan was aggrieved and wished to resign on grounds of illness. Ruoshui told him, "Great ministers serve the ruler by the Way, and when they cannot, they should withdraw. Why not settle the matter before the throne, so that the right to stay or go is made plain to the realm? How can you quietly plead illness and slip away, inviting the whole realm to call you a useless hanger-on at court?" He also said, "Rot has piled up for years, and good order is hard to achieve. Cuts have been ordered yet the treasury is still thin; taxes and corvée have been reduced yet the people remain exhausted; restrain the powerful and they grow bolder still; the official ranks are swollen yet never cleared. Now is the time to post relays to seek talent, open one's door to scholars, draw on whatever insight they offer, and use it to restore good government." In more than ten such points he struck deep at the ills of the day, and Bangyan was displeased.
37
靖康元年，為太學博士。 開府儀同三司高俅死，故事，天子當掛服舉哀，若水言：「俅以幸臣躐躋顯位，敗壞軍政，金人長驅，其罪當與童貫等。 得全首領以沒，尚當追削官秩，示與眾棄； 而有司循常習故，欲加縟禮，非所以靖公議也。」 章再上，乃止。
In the first year of the Jingkang reign, he served as Erudite of the Imperial University. When Gao Qiu, Grand Preceptor with ceremonial honors equal to the Three Excellencies, died, precedent called for the emperor to don mourning and perform lamentation rites. Ruoshui said, "Qiu rose to high rank as a favorite, ruined military affairs, and let the Jurchens sweep in unchecked. His guilt ranks with Tong Guan and men like him. Even though he died whole, his ranks should still be posthumously stripped, to show that all have cast him off; yet the officials follow old custom and would add elaborate rites. That is no way to quiet public outrage." He submitted his memorial twice before the court desisted.
38
欽宗將遣使至金國，議以賦入贖三鎮，詔舉可使者，若水在選中。 召對，賜今名，遷著作佐郎。 為使，見粘罕於雲中。 才歸，兵已南下，復假徽猷閣學士，副馮澥以往。 甫次中牟，守河兵相驚以金兵至，左右謀取間道去，澥問「何如」？ 若水曰：「戍卒畏敵而潰，奈何效之，今正有死耳。」 令敢言退者斬，眾乃定。
Emperor Qinzong was about to send envoys to the Jin court to discuss redeeming the Three Prefectures with tax revenues. An edict called for men fit to serve as envoys, and Ruoshui was chosen. Summoned for audience, he was granted his present name and promoted to Assistant Drafter in the Palace Library. As envoy he met Nianhan at Yunzhong. He had barely returned when Jin troops were already marching south. He was again lent the title of Academician of the Huaiyou Pavilion and went as deputy to Feng Li. When they halted at Zhongmou, the river-guard troops panicked one another with word that Jin forces had arrived. Those around them plotted to slip away by a side road. Li asked, "What do you think?" Ruoshui said, "The garrison troops feared the enemy and broke. How can we copy them? All that remains is to die." He ordered that anyone who spoke of retreat be executed, and the company steadied.
39
既行，疊具奏，言和議必不可諧，宜申飭守備。 至懷州，遇館伴蕭慶，挾與俱還。 及都門，拘之於沖虛觀，獨令慶、澥入。 既所議多不從，粘罕急攻城，若水入見帝，道其語，帝命何㮚行。 㮚還，言二人欲與上皇相見，帝曰：「朕當往。」 明日幸金營，過信而歸。 擢若水禮部尚書，固辭。 帝曰：「學士與尚書同班，何必辭。」 請不已，改吏部侍郎。
Once underway, he submitted memorial after memorial arguing that peace talks could not succeed and urging that defenses be tightened. At Huai Prefecture he met the escort commissioner Xiao Qing, who forced him to turn back with him. At the capital gate Ruoshui was detained at the Chongxu Abbey while only Qing and Li were admitted. When most of what was negotiated was rejected, Nianhan pressed the siege hard. Ruoshui entered to see the emperor, reported their demands, and the emperor ordered He Li to go. He returned saying the two men wished to meet the Retired Emperor. The emperor said, "I shall go myself." The next day he visited the Jin camp and returned on their pledge of good faith. Ruoshui was promoted to Minister of Rites but firmly declined. The emperor said, "An academician and a minister sit in the same court session. Why refuse?" He kept petitioning without cease and was reassigned as Vice Minister of Personnel.
40
二年，金人再邀帝出郊，帝殊有難色，若水以為無他慮，扈從以行。 金人計中變，逼帝易服，若水抱持而哭，詆金人為狗輩。 金人曳出，擊之敗面，氣結僕地，眾皆散，留鐵騎數十守視。 粘罕令曰：「必使李侍郎無恙。」 若水絕不食，或勉之曰：「事無可為者，公昨雖言，國相無怒心，今日順從，明日富貴矣。」 若水歎曰：「天無二日，若水寧有二主哉！」 其僕亦來慰解曰：「公父母春秋高，若少屈，冀得一歸覲。」 若水叱之曰：「吾不復顧家矣！ 忠臣事君，有死無二。 然吾親老，汝歸勿遽言，令兄弟徐言之可也。」
In the second year the Jurchens again summoned the emperor outside the city. The emperor was deeply reluctant, but Ruoshui, seeing no other danger, accompanied him. The Jurchens changed their plan midway and forced the emperor to change clothes. Ruoshui clung to him weeping and denounced the Jurchens as dogs. The Jurchens dragged him out and beat his face to ruin. He lost breath and collapsed. The crowd scattered, and several dozen armored horsemen were left to watch him. Nianhan ordered, "See that Vice Minister Li comes to no harm." Ruoshui refused all food. Someone urged him, "Nothing more can be done. Though you spoke harshly yesterday, the chief minister bears no grudge. Yield today and tomorrow you will be rich and honored." Ruoshui sighed and said, "Heaven has but one sun. How could Ruoshui serve two masters?" His servant also tried to comfort him: "Your parents are old. If you yield a little, you may yet return to see them once." Ruoshui rebuked him: "I no longer care for my family! A loyal minister serves his ruler; in death there is no second master. But my parents are old. When you return, do not tell them at once. Let my brothers break the news slowly."
41
後旬日，粘罕召計事，且問不肯立異姓狀。 若水曰：「上皇為生靈計，罪己內禪，主上仁孝慈儉，未有過行，豈宜輕議廢立？」 粘罕指宋朝失信，若水曰：「若以失信為過，公其尤也。」 歷數其五事曰：「汝為封豕長蛇，真一劇賊，滅亡無日矣。」 粘罕令擁之去，反顧罵益甚。 至郊壇下，謂其僕謝寧曰：「我為國死，職耳，奈並累若屬何！」 又罵不絕口，監軍者撾破其唇，噀血罵愈切，至以刃裂頸斷舌而死，年三十五。
More than ten days later Nianhan summoned him to discuss affairs and asked why he refused to sign the document installing a ruler of another surname. Ruoshui said, "The Retired Emperor, for the people's sake, blamed himself and abdicated. Our sovereign is benevolent, filial, compassionate, and frugal and has done no wrong. How can one lightly talk of deposing him?" Nianhan accused the Song of breaking faith. Ruoshui said, "If breach of faith is the crime, you are guiltier than anyone." He listed five offenses and said, "You are a ravening hog and long serpent, a true arch-villain. Your ruin is not far off." Nianhan ordered him dragged away. Looking back, he cursed all the more fiercely. At the foot of the suburban altar he said to his servant Xie Ning, "I die for the state—that is my duty. But how can I bear to drag you down with me?" Again he cursed without pause. The guards beat his lips apart; spewing blood, he cursed all the sharper. At last they cut his neck and severed his tongue. He died at thirty-five.
42
寧得歸，具言其狀。 高宗即位，下詔曰：「若水忠義之節，無與比倫，達于朕聞，為之涕泣。」 特贈觀文殿學士，諡曰忠湣。 死後有自北方逃歸者云：「金人相與言，'遼國之亡，死義者十數，南朝惟李侍郎一人'。 臨死無怖色，為歌詩卒，曰：'矯首問天兮，天卒無言，忠臣效死兮，死亦何愆？ '聞者悲之。」
Ning made it back and told the whole story in detail. When Emperor Gaozong took the throne, he issued an edict: "Ruoshui's loyal and righteous integrity is beyond compare. Learning of it, We are moved to tears." He was posthumously granted Academician of the Guanwen Hall, with the posthumous title Zhongmin. After his death a man who had escaped from the north reported, "The Jurchens said among themselves, 'When the Liao fell, more than ten died for righteousness. In the Southern Court there is only Vice Minister Li. Facing death he showed no fear and composed a final song-poem: "Raising my head I ask Heaven—Heaven gives no answer. A loyal minister dies in service—what fault is there in death?" Those who heard it were deeply grieved."
43
劉韐，字仲偃，建州崇安人。 第進士，調豐城尉、隴城令。 王厚鎮熙州，辟狄道令，提舉陝西平貨司。 河、湟兵屯多，食不繼，韐延致酋長，出金帛從易粟，就以餉軍，公私便之。 遂為轉運使，擢中大夫、集英殿修撰。
Liu Ge, styled Zhongyan, was from Chong'an in Jianzhou. He passed the jinshi examination and was appointed commandant of Fengcheng and magistrate of Longcheng. When Wang Hou governed Xizhou, Ge was recruited as magistrate of Didao and appointed supervisor of the Shaanxi Equitable-Price Bureau. Many troops were stationed along the He and Huang rivers and supplies ran short. Ge invited tribal chiefs, exchanged gold and silk for grain, and used it to feed the army, to the benefit of both public and private interests. He then became transport commissioner and was promoted to Grandee of the Palace and Compiler in the Hall for Cultivating Talent.
44
劉法死，夏人攻震武。 韐攝帥鄜延，出奇兵搗之，解其圍。 夏人來言，願納款謝罪，皆以為詐。 韐曰：「兵興累年，中國尚不支，況小邦乎？ 彼雖新勝，其眾亦疲，懼吾再舉，故款附以圖自安，此情實也。」 密疏以聞，詔許之。 夏使愆期不至，諸將言夏果詐，請會兵乘之。 韐曰：「越境約會，容有他故。」 會再請者至，韐戒曰：「朝廷方事討伐，吾為汝請，毋若異時邀歲幣，軼疆場，以取威怒。」 夏人聽命，西邊自是遂安。
When Liu Fa died, the Tangut attacked Zhenwu. Ge served as acting military commissioner of Fuyan, sent a surprise force against them, and lifted the siege. The Tangut sent word that they wished to submit and apologize, but all thought it a trick. Ge said, "War has dragged on for years. China itself can barely sustain it—how much less a small state? Though they have just won, their forces are weary too. Fearing we will strike again, they submit to secure themselves. That feeling is genuine." He reported this in a secret memorial, and the court approved. When the Tangut envoy missed the appointed date, the generals said the Tangut had indeed deceived them and asked to gather troops and strike. Ge said, "Cross-border appointments may be delayed for other reasons." When the envoy who came to renew the request arrived, Ge warned, "The court is bent on punitive campaigns. I have pleaded for you. Do not, as before, press for annual tribute, violate the border, and invite imperial wrath." The Tangut obeyed, and from then on the western frontier was at peace.
45
韐求東歸，拜徽猷閣待制，提舉崇福宮。 起知越州，鑒湖為民侵耕，官因收其租，歲二萬斛。 政和間，涸以為田，衍至六倍，隸中宮應奉，租太重而督索嚴，多逃去。 前勒鄰伍取償，民告病，韐請而蠲之。 方臘陷衢、婺，越大震，官吏悉遁，或具舟請行。 韐曰：「吾為郡守，當與城存亡。」 不為動，益厲戰守備。 寇至城下，擊敗之，拜述古殿直學士，召為河北、河東宣撫參謀官。
Ge sought to return east and was appointed Chamberlain for Attendant Readiness of the Huaiyou Pavilion and Supervisor of the Chongfu Palace. Recalled to serve as prefect of Yuezhou, he found that farmers had encroached on Mirror Lake for cultivation; the government collected rent on it, twenty thousand bushels a year. During the Zhenghe era the lake was drained for fields, expanding to six times its former area and placed under the inner palace tribute office. The rent was crushing and collection harsh, and many fled. Previously the authorities had forced neighboring households to make up the shortfall. The people complained bitterly, and Ge petitioned to have the levy remitted. When Fang La took Qu and Wu, Yue was thrown into panic. Officials fled, and some prepared boats and urged him to leave. Ge said, "I am prefect of this commandery. I should live or die with the city." He would not budge and redoubled the city's defenses. When bandits reached the walls he defeated them. He was appointed Direct Academician of the Shugu Hall and summoned as staff officer to the Hebei and Hedong Pacification Commissioner.
46
時邊臣言，燕民思內附，童貫、蔡攸方出師，而種師道之軍潰。 韐意警報不實，見師道計事。 師道曰：「契丹兵勢尚盛，而燕人未有應者，恐邊臣誕謾誤國事。」 韐即馳白貫、攸，請班師。 又論燕薊不可得，正使得之，屯兵遣餉，經費無藝，必重困中國。 還次莫州，會郭藥師以涿州降，戎車再駕，以韐議異，徙知真定府。 藥師入朝，韐密奏乞留之，不報。 徙知建州，改福州，加延康殿學士。 或言其過闕時，見御史中丞有所請，遂罷。 起知荊南，河北盜起，復以守真定。 首賊柴宏本富室，不堪征斂，聚眾剽奪，殺巡尉，統制官亦戰死。 韐單騎赴鎮，遣招之，宏至服罪。 韐飲之酒，請以官，縱其黨還田裏，一路遂平。 藥師請馬，詔盡以河北戰馬與之，不足，又賦諸民。 韐曰：「空內郡駔駿，付一降將，非計也。」 奏止之。 金人已謀南牧，朝廷方從之求雲中地。 韐諜得實，急以聞，且陰治城守以待變。 是冬，金兵抵城下，知有備，留兵其旁，長驅內向。 及還，治梯沖設圍，示欲攻擊，韐發強駑射之，金人知不可脅，乃退。 自金兵之來，諸郡皆塞門，民坐困，韐獨縱樵牧如平日，以時啟閉。 欽宗善之，拜資政殿學士。
At the time frontier officials reported that the people of Yan wished to come over to the Song. Tong Guan and Cai You were just setting out when Zhong Shidao's army collapsed. Ge suspected the alarm was false and went to consult Shidao. Shidao said, "Khitan forces are still strong, yet the people of Yan have not risen. I fear frontier officials have lied and will ruin the state's business." Ge immediately rode to inform Tong and You and asked that the army be withdrawn. He also argued that Yan and Ji could not be taken; even if they were, garrisoning troops and shipping supplies would cost without limit and would crush the empire. On the return march he halted at Mozhou. When Guo Yaoshi surrendered Zhuozhou, the campaign set out again. Because Ge's views differed, he was transferred to prefect of Zhending. When Yaoshi came to court, Ge secretly memorialized asking that he be detained. The court did not reply. He was transferred to Jianzhou, then Fuzhou, and granted Academician of the Yankang Hall. Someone reported that when passing through the palace gate he had been seen petitioning the Censor-in-Chief, and he was dismissed. He was recalled to govern Jingnan. When bandits rose in Hebei, he was again put in charge of Zhending. The chief bandit Chai Hong had been a wealthy man who could not bear the levies. He gathered followers to plunder, killed patrol officers, and a control officer also died fighting him. Ge rode alone to his post, sent to summon Hong, and Hong came to submit to punishment. Ge gave him wine, asked that he be given an office, and released his followers to return to their villages. The whole circuit was pacified. Yaoshi requested horses. An edict gave him all the war horses of Hebei; when that was not enough, the levy was extended to the people. Ge said, "To strip the inner commanderies of their best horses and hand them to one surrendered general is no wise plan." He memorialized and stopped it. The Jurchens were already planning to drive south, even as the court was acceding to their request for the Yunzhong territory. Ge's spies confirmed it. He reported urgently and quietly strengthened the city's defenses to await whatever might come. That winter Jin troops reached the walls. Seeing the city prepared, they left troops nearby and drove straight inland. When they returned, they built scaling ladders and siege engines and set up a siege, feigning attack. Ge deployed powerful crossbows and shot at them. The Jurchens saw they could not force him and withdrew. Since the Jin troops came, every commandery had shut its gates and the people were trapped indoors. Ge alone let woodcutters and herdsmen go out as on ordinary days, opening and closing the gates on schedule. Emperor Qinzong approved and appointed him Academician of the Hall for Aid in Governance.
47
時已許割地賂金人，而議者乘士民之憤，復議追躡，韐以亟戰為非。 是時，諸將救太原，種師中、姚古敗。 以韐為宣撫副使，至遼州，招集糾募，得兵四萬人，與解潛、折可求約期俱進，兩人又繼敗。 初，韐遣別將賈瓊自代州出敵背，且許義軍以爵祿，得首領數十。 既復五台，而潛、可求敗聞，遂不果進。 太原陷，召入覲，為京城四壁守禦使，宰相沮罷之。
By then the court had already agreed to cede territory to buy off the Jurchens, but debaters, seizing on the anger of soldiers and civilians, again proposed hot pursuit. Ge held that rushing into battle was wrong. At this time the generals marched to relieve Taiyuan. Zhong Shizhong and Yao Gu were defeated. Ge was appointed Deputy Commissioner for Pacification. At Liaozhou he raised and mustered troops until he had forty thousand men. He arranged with Xie Qian and Zhe Keqiu to advance together on a fixed date, but both were defeated in turn. Earlier Ge had sent another commander, Jia Qiong, out from Daizhou to hit the enemy from the rear, and had promised ranks and stipends to militia leaders, winning over several dozen chieftains. Wutai was recovered, but when word came that Qian and Keqiu had been defeated, the advance was never carried out. When Taiyuan fell he was summoned to court and appointed Defender of the Four Walls of the Capital, but the chief councillors blocked the appointment and had him removed.
48
韐莊重寬厚，與人交，若有畏者； 至臨大事則毅然不可回奪。 初在西州為童貫所知，故首尾預其軍事，及以忠死，論者不復短其前失雲。 子子羽、孫珙，自有傳。
Ge was grave, generous, and mild. In his dealings with others he seemed almost intimidating; yet when great affairs were at stake he was resolute and could not be swayed. Early on in Xizhou he had caught Tong Guan's eye and so had been involved in his military campaigns from start to finish. When he died loyal to the state, commentators no longer dwelt on his earlier mistakes. His sons Ziyu and Gong have separate biographies.
49
傅察，字公晦，孟州濟源人，中書侍郎堯俞從孫也。 年十八，登進士第。 蔡京在相位，聞其名，遣子鯈往見，將妻以女，拒弗答。 調青州司法參軍，曆永平、淄川丞，入為太常博士，遷兵部、吏部員外郎。
Fu Cha, styled Gonghui, was from Jiyuan in Meng Prefecture and a grand-nephew of Yaoyu, Vice Director of the Secretariat. At eighteen he passed the jinshi examination. When Cai Jing was chancellor, he heard of Cha's reputation and sent his son Chou to visit him, intending to marry him to his daughter. Cha refused and would not agree. He was assigned as judicial aide in Qing Prefecture, then served as assistant magistrate of Yongping and Zichuan. He entered the capital as Erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and was promoted to Vice Director in the Ministries of War and of Personnel.
50
宣和七年十月，接伴金國賀正旦使。 是時，金將渝盟，而朝廷未之知也。 察至燕，聞金人入寇，或勸毋遽行。 察曰：「受使以出，聞難而止，若君命何。」 遂至韓城鎮。 使人不來，居數日，金數十騎馳入館，強之上馬，行次境上，察覺有變，不肯進，曰：「迓使人，故例止此。」 金人輒易其馭者，擁之東北去，行百里許，遇所謂二太子斡離不者領兵至驛道，使拜。 察曰：「吾若奉使大國，見國主當致敬，今來迎客而脅我至此！ 又止令見太子，太子雖貴人，臣也，當以賓禮見，何拜為？」 斡離不怒曰：「吾興師南向，何使之稱？ 凡汝國得失，為我道之，否則死。」 察曰：「主上仁聖，與大國講好，信使往來，項背相望，未有失德。 太子幹盟而動，意欲何為？ 還朝當具奏。」 斡離不曰：「爾尚欲還朝邪！」 左右促使拜，白刃如林，或捽之伏地，衣袂顛倒，愈植立不顧，反覆論辨。 斡離不曰：「爾今不拜，後日雖欲拜，可得邪！」 麾令去。
In the tenth month of the seventh year of Xuanhe, he was appointed escort commissioner for the Jin envoys coming to congratulate the court on New Year's Day. At this time the Jin were about to break the alliance, but the court did not yet know. When Cha reached Yan, he heard that the Jurchens were invading. Some urged him not to press on. Cha said, "Having received a mission and set out, to halt when one hears of danger — what becomes of the ruler's command?" So he continued on to Hancheng town. The envoys never came. After several days, several dozen Jurchen horsemen galloped into the lodge and forced him onto a horse. When they reached the border, Cha sensed something was wrong and refused to go farther. "In escorting envoys," he said, "by precedent one stops here." The Jurchens immediately changed his escort and marched him northeast. After about a hundred li they met the so-called Second Prince, Wolibu, leading troops on the post road, who ordered him to bow. Cha said, "If I were on a mission to a great state, I would pay respects when meeting the ruler. But I came to receive guests, and you have forced me here! And you only require me to meet the prince. However exalted the prince may be, he is still a subject. I should meet him with the rites due a guest — why should I bow?" Wolibu said angrily, "I have raised an army and marched south. What mission do you speak of? Tell me everything about your state's strengths and weaknesses, or die." Cha said, "Our sovereign is benevolent and sage. He has made peace with your great state, and envoys have traveled back and forth in an unbroken stream. There has been no lapse in virtue. The prince has broken the alliance and taken action. What does he intend? When I return to court I shall report this in full." Wolibu said, "Do you still think you can return to court!" His attendants pressed him to bow. Naked blades stood like a forest. Some dragged him to the ground until his sleeves and hem were turned upside down, yet he stood all the more upright and unyielding, arguing back and forth. Wolibu said, "If you do not bow today, even if you wish to bow later, will you be able to?" He waved his hand and ordered him taken away.
51
察知不免，謂官屬侯彥等曰：「我死必矣，我父母素愛我，聞之必大戚。 若萬一脫，幸記吾言，告吾親，使知我死國，少紓其亡窮之悲也。」 眾皆泣。 是夕隔絕，不復見。 金兵至燕，彥等密訪存亡，曰：「使臣不拜太子，昨郭藥師戰勝有喜色，太子慮其劫取，且銜往忿，殺之矣。」 將官武漢英識其屍，焚之，裹其骨，命虎翼卒沙立負以歸。 立至涿州，金人得而系諸土室，凡兩月。 伺守者怠，毀垣出，歸以骨付其家。 副使蔣噩及彥輩歸，皆能道察不屈狀，贈徽猷閣待制。
Cha knew he could not escape. He said to his staff members Hou Yan and others, "I am sure to die. My parents have always loved me, and when they hear of it they will be deeply grieved. If by any chance you escape, please remember what I say and tell my parents, so that knowing I died for the state they may find some relief from their boundless grief." All wept. That evening he was cut off from them and was never seen again. When the Jin troops reached Yan, Yan and the others secretly inquired after him and were told, "The envoy refused to bow to the prince. Yesterday Guo Yaoshi's victory had put the prince in good humor, but the prince feared a rescue attempt and, still nursing old resentment, had him killed." The officer Wu Hanying identified his corpse, cremated it, wrapped the bones, and ordered the Tiger Wing soldier Sha Li to carry them home. When Li reached Zhuozhou, the Jurchens captured him and locked him in an earthen cell for two months. When the guards slackened, he broke through the wall and escaped, returned home, and delivered the bones to Cha's family. The deputy commissioner Jiang E, Yan, and the others returned and all could describe Cha's refusal to yield. He was posthumously granted the title Attendant Drafting in the Hall of Splendid Writings.
52
察自幼嗜學，同輩或邀與娛嬉，不肯就。 為文溫麗有典裁。 平居恂恂然，無喜慍色，遇事若無所可否，非其意，崒然不可犯。 恬于勢利，在京師，故人鼎貴，罕至其門，間一見，寒溫談笑而已。 及倉卒徇義，犖犖如此，聞者哀而壯之，時年三十七。 乾道中，賜諡曰忠肅。
From youth Cha was devoted to learning. When peers invited him to join in amusement and play, he would not go. His writing was warm, elegant, and well measured. In ordinary life he was modest and deferential, showing neither joy nor anger. In affairs he seemed to approve or disapprove of nothing, but when something went against his mind he suddenly became unapproachable. He was indifferent to power and profit. In the capital, though old friends rose to great eminence, they rarely came to his door, and when he saw them once in a while it was only to exchange greetings and casual talk. Yet when in haste he gave his life for righteousness, he stood out so remarkably that those who heard were moved to sorrow and admiration. He was thirty-seven at the time. In the Qiandao era he was granted the posthumous title Zhongsu, "Loyal and Solemn."
53
楊震，字子發，代州崞人。 以弓馬絕倫為安邊巡檢。 河東軍征臧底河，敵據山為城，下瞰官軍，諸將合兵城下，震率壯士拔劍先登，斬數百級，眾乘勝平之，上功第一。
Yang Zhen, styled Zifa, was from Guo in Daizhou. Because his archery and horsemanship were unmatched, he was made frontier patrol inspector of Anbian. When the Hedong army campaigned on the Zangdi River, the enemy held a mountain as a fortress and looked down on the government troops. The generals combined their forces below the fort. Zhen led brave men, swords drawn, in the first assault. They cut down several hundred heads, the troops pressed the victory and took the place, and his merit was ranked first.
54
從折可存討方臘，自浙東轉擊至三界鎮，斬首八千級。 追襲至黃岩，賊帥呂師囊扼斷頭之險拒守，下石肆擊，累日不得進。 可存問計，震請以輕兵緣山背上，憑高鼓噪發矢石，賊驚走，已復縱火自衛。 震身被重鎧，與麾下履火突入，生得師囊，及殺首領三十人，進秩五等。 還知麟州建寧砦。
Following Zhe Kechun in the campaign against Fang La, he turned from eastern Zhe and fought through to Sanjie town, taking eight thousand heads. Pursuing the attack to Huangyan, the bandit chief Lü Shinang held the Decapitated Head defile and blocked the way, rolling down stones in fierce assault. For many days they could not advance. Kechun asked for a plan. Zhen proposed sending light troops along the mountain ridge to shout from the heights and rain down arrows and stones. The bandits fled in alarm, but then set fires to defend themselves. Zhen himself wore heavy armor and, with his men, marched through the fire and broke in. He captured Shinang alive and killed thirty chieftains. He was promoted five ranks. On his return he was appointed prefect of Lin Prefecture and commander of Jianning Fort.
55
父宗閔
Father: Zongmin
56
初，契丹之亡，其將小䩴䩮西奔，招合雜羌十余萬，破豐州，攻麟府諸城郭。 震父宗閔領本道兵馬屢摧敗之，俘其父母妻子。 靖康元年十月，太原陷，䩴䩮驅幽薊叛卒與夏人奚人圍建寧，扣壁語震曰：「汝父奪我居，破我兵，掩我骨肉，我忍死到今，急舉城降，當全汝軀命。」 時城中守兵不滿百，震與戰士約，斬一級賞若干，官帑竭，繼以家人服珥，吏士感激自奮。 越旬，矢盡力乏，城不守，與子居中、執中力戰沒，閤門俱喪，唯長子存中從征河北獨免。 明年，宗閔亦死事于長安。
Earlier, when the Khitan state fell, its general Xiao Ni'an fled west, gathered more than a hundred thousand mixed Qiang tribesmen, captured Feng Prefecture, and attacked the walled towns of Lin and Fu. Zhen's father Zongmin, leading the military forces of the circuit, repeatedly crushed and defeated him and captured his parents, wife, and children. In the tenth month of the first year of Jingkang, when Taiyuan fell, Ni'an drove rebel soldiers from You and Ji together with Tangut and Xi troops to besiege Jianning. He knocked on the wall and said to Zhen, "Your father seized my home, broke my army, and captured my kin. I have endured until now — hurry and surrender the city, and I will spare your life." At the time the defenders numbered fewer than a hundred. Zhen promised the warriors a set reward for each head cut off. When the official treasury was exhausted, he paid with his family's clothing and earrings. Officials and soldiers were moved to fight all the harder. After more than ten days, arrows were spent and strength exhausted and the city could not be held. He and his sons Juzhong and Zhizhong fought fiercely and perished. The whole household was lost; only the eldest son Cunzhong, campaigning in Hebei, escaped. The next year Zongmin also died in service at Chang'an.
57
震時年四十四。 建炎二年，詔贈武經郎。 存中貴，請於朝，諡曰恭毅。
Zhen was forty-four at the time. In the second year of Jianyan, an edict posthumously granted him the rank of Gentleman for Military Classics. When Cunzhong rose to eminence, he petitioned the court, and the posthumous title Gongyi, "Respectful and Resolute," was granted.
58
張克戩
Zhang Kejian
59
張克戩，字德祥，侍中耆曾孫也。 第進士，曆河間令，知吳縣。 吳為浙劇邑，民喜爭，大姓怙勢持官府。 為令者踵故抑首，務為不生事、幸得去而已。 克戩一裁以法，奸猾屏氣，使者以狀聞，召拜衛尉丞。 初，克戩從弟克公為御史，劾蔡京。 京再輔政，修怨于張氏，以微事黜克戩。 逾年，起知祥符縣，司開封戶曹，提舉京東常平，入辭，留為庫部員外郎。
Zhang Kejian, styled Dexiang, was a great-grandson of Qi, Palace Attendant. He passed the jinshi examination, served as magistrate of Hejian, and was prefect of Wu County. Wu was a difficult county in Zhe. The people loved litigation, and great clans relied on power to dominate the magistracy. Magistrates followed precedent and bowed their heads, striving only not to make trouble and hoping merely to get away. Kejian judged everything by law. The cunning and slippery held their breath. The commissioner reported his conduct to the throne, and he was summoned and appointed Vice Director of the Imperial Guard. Earlier, Kejian's cousin Ke Gong had served as censor and impeached Cai Jing. When Jing again held power, he nursed a grudge against the Zhang clan and dismissed Kejian on a trivial matter. After more than a year he was reappointed prefect of Xiangfu County, served as clerk of household accounts in Kaifeng, and was commissioner for the Eastern Capital Circuit's Ever-Normal Granaries. When he came to take leave of the throne he was retained as Vice Director in the Ministry of Revenue.
60
宣和七年八月，知汾州。 十二月，金兵犯河東，圍太原。 太原距汾二百里，遣將銀朱孛堇來攻，縱兵四掠，克戩畢力扞禦。 燕人先內附在城下者數十，陰結黨欲為內應，悉收斬之。 數選勁卒撓敵營，出不意焚其柵，敵懼引去，論功加直秘閣。
In the eighth month of the seventh year of Xuanhe, he was appointed prefect of Fen Prefecture. In the twelfth month, Jin troops invaded Hedong and besieged Taiyuan. Taiyuan was two hundred li from Fen. The Jin sent the general Yinzhu Beijin to attack, letting his troops plunder on all sides. Kejian exerted all his strength in defense. Several dozen men from Yan who had earlier submitted and were below the walls secretly formed a faction intending to serve as inside collaborators. He arrested and executed them all. Several times he selected crack troops to harass the enemy camp and, catching them off guard, burned their palisades. The enemy, fearing this, withdrew. For his merit he was promoted to Direct Associate of the Secretariat.
61
靖康元年六月，金兵復逼城。 朝廷命經略使張孝純之子灝、都統制張思正、轉運使李宗來援，思正誅求無藝，民不堪命。 克戩引誼開曉，皆願自奮。 宣撫使李綱表其守城之勞，連進直龍圖閣、右文殿修撰。 太原不守，思正紿雲出戰，遂率灝、宗奔慈、隰，於是人無固志。 戍將麻世堅中夜斬關出，通判韓琥相繼亡，克戩召令兵民曰：「太原既陷，吾固知亡矣。 然義不忍負國家、辱父祖，願與此城終始以明吾節，諸君其自為謀。」 皆泣不能仰視，同辭而對曰：「公父母也，願盡死聽命。」 乃益厲兵儆守。 賊至，身帥將士擐甲登陴，雖屢卻敵而援師訖不至。
In the sixth month of the first year of Jingkang, Jin troops again pressed the city. The court ordered the pacification commissioner Zhang Xiaochun's son Hao, the overall commander Zhang Sizheng, and the transport commissioner Li Zong to come to the rescue. Sizheng extorted without limit, and the people could not bear it. Kejian appealed to their sense of duty and reasoned with them, and all were willing to fight harder. Commissioner for Pacification Li Gang memorialized his labors in defending the city, and he was promoted in succession to Direct Associate of the Dragon Diagram Hall and Compiler at the Hall of Right Culture. When Taiyuan could not be held, Sizheng deceived them saying he would go out to battle, then led Hao and Zong in flight to Ci and Xi. After this the people had no firm will to resist. The garrison commander Ma Shijian cut through the gate and fled in the middle of the night. The vice prefect Han Hu likewise fled. Kejian summoned the soldiers and civilians and said, "Now that Taiyuan has fallen, I already know we are doomed. Yet in righteousness I cannot bear to fail the state or disgrace my fathers and ancestors. I wish to see this city through to the end to make clear my integrity. You all must look to your own plans." All wept and could not raise their eyes to look. With one voice they replied, "You are our father and mother. We wish to die to the last man and obey your command." Then he redoubled the drilling of troops and tightened the defense. When the enemy arrived, he personally led the officers and soldiers, armored, onto the battlements. Though they repeatedly repelled the enemy, relief troops never came.
62
金兵破平遙，平遙為汾大邑，久與賊抗，既先陷，又脅降介休、孝義諸縣，據州南二十村，作攻城器具，兩遣使持書諭克戩，焚不啟。 具述危苦之狀，募士間道言之朝，不報。 十月朔，金益萬騎來攻愈急，有十人唱為降語，斬以徇。 諸酋列城下，克戩臨罵極口，炮中一酋，立斃。 度不得免，手草遺表及與妻子遺書，縋州兵持抵京師。 明日，金兵從西北隅入，殺都監賈亶，克戩猶帥眾巷戰，金人募生致之。 克戩歸索朝服，焚香南向拜舞，自引決，一家死者八人。 金將奉其屍禮葬於後園，羅拜設祭，為立廟。 事聞，詔贈延康殿學士，贈銀三百兩、絹五百匹，表揭門閭。 紹興中，諡忠確。
Jin troops captured Pingyao. Pingyao was a great town of Fen and had long resisted the enemy. After it fell first, they also coerced Jiexiu, Xiaoyi, and other counties to surrender, occupied twenty villages south of the prefecture, and made siege engines. Twice they sent envoys bearing letters to instruct Kejian. He burned them unread. He set forth in full the desperate plight and recruited men to go by hidden routes and report to the court. He received no reply. On the first day of the tenth month, the Jin added ten thousand horsemen and pressed the attack ever harder. Ten men were heard advocating surrender, and he executed them as a warning. The chieftains lined up below the wall. Kejian leaned over and cursed them to the full. A cannon shot struck one chieftain and killed him on the spot. Judging that he could not escape, he personally drafted a final memorial and letters of farewell to his wife and children, and had a soldier of the prefecture lowered by rope to carry them to the capital. The next day Jin troops entered from the northwest corner and killed the overseer Jia Dan. Kejian still led the crowd in street fighting. The Jurchens offered a reward to capture him alive. Kejian returned home, asked for his court robes, burned incense and bowed facing south, and took his own life. Eight members of his household died. The Jin general had his corpse buried with ceremony in the rear garden, bowed in array and set out offerings, and had a temple built for him. When the matter was reported, an edict posthumously granted him Academician of the Hall for Extended Health, three hundred taels of silver and five hundred bolts of silk, and a memorial tablet posted at his gate. In the Shaoxing era he was granted the posthumous title Zhongque, "Loyal and Steadfast."
63
張確，字子固，邠州宜祿人。 元祐中，擢進士第。 徽宗即位，應詔上書言十事，乞誅大奸，退小人，進賢能，開禁錮，起老成，擢忠鯁，息邊事，修文德，廣言路，容直諫，遂列於上籍。
Zhang Que, styled Ziggu, was a native of Yilu in Bin Prefecture. During the Yuanyou era, he passed the jinshi examination. When Emperor Huizong came to the throne, he responded to an imperial summons with a memorial outlining ten proposals: execute the greatest villains, dismiss petty officials, promote the worthy and capable, lift bans on office, recall seasoned statesmen, elevate the loyal and outspoken, reduce border tensions, restore civil virtue, broaden avenues for remonstrance, and welcome frank counsel. He was thereupon enrolled on the upper register.
64
宣和二年，召至京師。 青溪盜起，確言：「此皆王民，但庸人擾之耳。 願下哀痛之詔，省不急之務，租賦之外，一切寢罷，敢以花石淫巧供上者死。 撫綏脅附，毋以多殺為功，旬浹之間，可以殄滅。」 忤王黼意，通判杭州，攝睦州事。 有自賊中逃歸者，悉宥之，訪得虛實以告，諸將用其言。 盜平，知坊、汾二州。
In the second year of Xuanhe, he was summoned to the capital. When the Qingxi bandits rose, Que said, "These are all the emperor's subjects—it is only incompetent officials who have stirred them up. Issue an edict of remorse and compassion, cut back non-urgent affairs, and abolish every levy beyond rents and taxes; let death be the penalty for anyone who dares furnish the court with ornamental stones and extravagant luxuries. Pacify those who were forced to join, and do not treat slaughter as achievement—in ten days the rebels can be wiped out." This offended Wang Fu, and he was made vice-prefect of Hangzhou with responsibility for Muzhou affairs. He pardoned everyone who fled back from the rebels, investigated to learn what was true and what was false, and reported his findings; the generals acted on his counsel. After the rebels were suppressed, he was appointed prefect of Fang and Fen Prefectures.
65
宣和七年，徙解州，又徙隆德府。 金兵圍太原，忻、代降，平陽兵叛。 確表言：「河東天下根本，安危所系，無河東，豈特秦不可守，汴亦不可都矣。 敵既得叛卒，勢必南下，潞城百年不修築，將兵又皆戍邊。 臣生長西州，頗諳武事，若得秦兵十萬人，猶足以抗敵，不然，唯有一死報陛下耳。」 書累上不報。 明年二月，金兵至，知城中無備，諭使降。 確乘城拒守，或獻謀欲自東城潰圍出，且探確意。 確怒叱曰：「確守土臣，當以死報國，頭可斷，腰不可屈。」 乃戰而死。
In the seventh year of Xuanhe, he was transferred to Jie Prefecture and then to Longde Prefecture. Jin troops besieged Taiyuan; Xin and Dai surrendered, and the garrison at Pingyang mutinied. Que submitted a memorial stating, "Hedong is the empire's foundation and the pivot of its safety and peril. Without Hedong, not only would Qin be impossible to hold—even Bian could not remain the capital. Once the enemy takes the mutinous troops, they will surely push south. Lucheng has gone unrepaired for a century, and its officers and soldiers are all posted on the frontier. Your subject was raised in the western regions and knows something of military affairs. Give me a hundred thousand Qin troops and I can still hold the enemy at bay; otherwise I have only my death to offer Your Majesty." He submitted memorial after memorial, but none received a reply. The following year, in the second month, Jin troops arrived. Seeing that the city was undefended, they urged him to surrender. Que mounted the walls to resist the siege. Someone proposed breaking out through the eastern gate and tested Que's reaction. Que angrily rebuked him: "I am a minister charged with this land. I owe the state my death—my head may be cut off, but my back will not bow." He then fought and died.
66
欽宗聞之悲悼，優贈述古殿直學士，召見其子乂，慰撫之曰：「卿父今之巡、遠也，得其死所矣，復何恨。 使為將為守者皆如卿父，朕顧有今日邪！」 斂容歎息者久之。
When Emperor Qinzong heard the news, he grieved deeply. He posthumously granted Que the title of Direct Academician of the Hall for Venerating Antiquity, summoned his son Yi, and comforted him, saying, "Your father is this age's Zhang Xun and Xu Yuan. He found the death he sought—what more could he have wished for? If every general and every defender were like your father, would I be in the plight I face today?" He composed his face and sighed for a long while.
67
朱昭，字彥明，府穀人。 以效用進，累官秉義郎，浮湛班行，不自表異。 宣和末，為震威城兵馬監押，攝知城事。 金兵內侵，夏人乘虛盡取河外諸城鎮。 震威距府州三百里，最為孤絕。 昭率老幼嬰城，敵攻之力，昭募驍銳兵卒千餘人，與約曰：「賊知城中虛實，有輕我心，若出不意攻之，可一鼓而潰。」 於是夜縋兵出，薄其營，果驚亂，城上鼓噪乘之，殺獲甚眾。
Zhu Zhao, styled Yanming, was a native of Fugu. He rose through military service, eventually reaching the rank of Bearer of Righteousness. He drifted unobtrusively through the ranks and never sought to stand out. At the end of the Xuanhe era, he served as supervisor of troops and horses at Zhenwei Fort and was put in charge of the fort's affairs. When Jin troops invaded the interior, the Tangut seized the opportunity and took every fort and town west of the Yellow River. Zhenwei lay three hundred li from Fuzhou and was the most isolated of all. Zhao led the old and young into the fort to hold it. As the enemy pressed the attack, he recruited more than a thousand of his best troops and pledged to them, "The enemy knows our strength inside the walls and looks down on us. Strike where they do not expect, and we can rout them in a single assault." That night he lowered troops over the wall by rope, closed on the enemy camp, and threw them into panic. Those on the walls beat drums and raised a clamor to press the advantage, killing and capturing a great many.
68
夏人設木鵝梯沖以臨城，飛矢雨激，卒不能施，然晝夜進攻不止。 其酋悟兒思齊介胄來，以氈盾自蔽，邀昭計事。 昭常服登陴，披襟問曰：「彼何人，乃爾不武！ 欲見我，我在此，將有何事？」 思齊卻盾而前，數宋朝失信，曰：「大金約我夾攻京師，為城下之盟，畫河為界； 太原旦暮且下，麟府諸壘悉已歸我，公何恃而不降？」 昭曰：「上皇知奸邪誤國，改過不吝，已行內禪，今天子聖政一新矣，汝獨未知邪？」 乃取傳禪詔赦宣讀之，眾愕眙，服其勇辯。 是時，諸城降者多，昭故人從旁語曰：「天下事已矣，忠安所施？」 昭叱曰：「汝輩背義偷生，不異犬彘，尚敢以言誘我乎？ 我唯有死耳！」 因大罵引弓射之，眾走。 凡被圍四日，城多圮壞，昭以智補禦，皆合法，然不可復支。 昭退坐廳事，召諸校謂曰：「城且破，妻子不可為賊汙，幸先戕我家而背城死戰，勝則東向圖大功，不勝則暴骨境內，大丈夫一生之事畢矣。」 眾未應。 昭幼子戲階下，遽起手刃之，長子驚視，又殺之，徑領數卒屠其家人，舁屍納井中。 部將賈宗望母適過前，昭起呼曰：「媼，鄉人也，吾不欲刃，請自入井。」 媼從之，遂並覆以土。 將士將妻孥者，又皆盡殺之。 昭謂眾曰：「我與汝曹俱無累矣！」
The Tangut raised siege towers, scaling ladders, and battering rams against the walls. Arrows fell like rain and the engines could not be brought to bear, yet the assault continued day and night without pause. Their chieftain Wusiqi came in armor, hiding behind felt shields, and asked to parley with Zhao. Zhao, in ordinary dress, mounted the ramparts, opened his collar, and called out, "Who is that—so timid in war! If you wanted to see me, here I am. What do you want?" Wusiqi lowered his shield and stepped forward, reciting the Song's broken promises: "Great Jin made a pact with us to attack the capital together. We swore a treaty beneath the walls and drew the river as the boundary. Taiyuan will fall any day. Every fortress in Lin and Fu has already submitted to us. On what do you rely in refusing to surrender?" Zhao said, "The Retired Emperor knows that wicked men led the state astray and has not hesitated to reform. He has already abdicated in favor of a successor, and the Son of Heaven's governance is wholly renewed. Are you alone ignorant of this?" He then produced the abdication edict and the general pardon and read them aloud. The crowd stared in astonishment and admired his courage and eloquence. By then many forts had already surrendered. An old acquaintance of Zhao spoke up from the side: "The empire is finished. Where is there left to show loyalty?" Zhao rebuked him: "You betray your duty to cling to life—you are no better than dogs and swine. How dare you try to tempt me with such talk? I have only death!" He cursed them loudly, drew his bow, and shot at them, and the crowd fled. The siege lasted four days in all. Much of the wall had collapsed, and Zhao used every clever expedient to shore up the defense—all sound in method—yet the fort could no longer hold. Zhao withdrew to the hall, summoned his officers, and said, "The fort is about to fall. Our wives and children must not be defiled by the enemy. First slay my family, then let us fight to the death with our backs to the wall. If we win, we turn east and win great glory; if we lose, our bones will lie exposed within these borders. A man's whole life's business will then be complete." No one answered. Zhao's youngest son was playing on the steps below. Zhao suddenly rose and killed him with his own hand. His eldest son looked up in shock and Zhao killed him too. He then led several soldiers to slaughter the rest of his household, lifted the corpses, and cast them into a well. The deputy commander Jia Zongwang's mother happened to pass by. Zhao rose and called out, "Old lady, you are from my home district. I do not wish to use the blade on you—please throw yourself into the well." The old lady complied, and they covered the well with earth. Officers and soldiers who had wives and children killed them all as well. Zhao said to the men, "You and I are free of all encumbrances now!"
69
部落子有陰與賊通者，告之曰：「朱昭與其徒各殺其家人，將出戰，人雖少，皆死士也。」 賊大懼，以利啖守兵，得登城。 昭勒眾于通衢接戰，自暮達旦，屍填街不可行。 昭躍馬從缺城出，馬蹶墜塹，賊歡曰：「得朱將軍矣！」 欲生致之。 昭瞋目仗劍，無一敢前，旋中矢而死，年四十六。
A tribesman who had secretly colluded with the enemy reported, "Zhu Zhao and his men have each killed their own families and are about to sally forth. They are few, but every one of them is a man ready to die." The enemy was terrified. They bribed the garrison with rewards and were able to scale the walls. Zhao rallied his men to fight in the main street. From dusk until dawn corpses filled the road until it could not be crossed. Zhao leaped onto a horse and rode out through a breach in the wall. The horse stumbled and fell into the ditch. The enemy exulted, "We have got General Zhu!" They wanted to take him alive. Zhao glared, sword in hand, and not one dared approach. Presently he was struck by an arrow and died. He was forty-six.
70
史抗，濟源人。 宣和末，為代州沿邊安撫副使。 金人圍代急，抗夜呼其二子稽古、稽哲謂曰：「吾昔語用事者，'雁門控制一道，宜擇帥增戍以謀未形之患，若使橫流，則無所措矣'。 言雖切，皆不吾省。 今重圍既固，外援不至，吾用六壬術占之，明日城必陷，吾將死事，汝輩亦勿以妻子為念而負國也。 能聽吾言，當令家屬自裁，然後同赴義。」 二子泣曰：「唯吾父命。」 明日，城果破，父子三人突圍力戰，死於城隅。
Shi Kang was a native of Jiyuan. At the end of the Xuanhe era, he served as deputy commissioner for frontier pacification of Dai Prefecture. The Jurchens pressed the siege of Dai hard. Kang called his two sons, Jigu and Jizhe, to him at night and said, "I once told those in power, 'Yanmen controls an entire frontier route. Choose a capable commander, strengthen the garrisons, and guard against trouble before it takes shape. If disaster is allowed to flood unchecked, there will be nowhere to turn. My words were urgent, but no one paid me any heed. Now the siege is tight, outside aid will not come, and I have divined by the Liuren method that the city will fall tomorrow. I shall die in the state's service. You too must not let thoughts of wife and children make you fail the state. If you will heed me, have our families take their own lives, and then together we shall meet our righteous end." The two sons wept and said, "We obey only our father's command." The next day the city fell as he had foretold. Father and two sons broke out and fought with all their strength, and died at a corner of the wall.
71
孫益，不知其所以進。 宣和末，以福州觀察使知朔寧府，被命救太原。 時敵勢張甚，或言不若引兵北搗雲中，彼之將士室家在焉，所謂攻其所必救也。 益曰：「此策固善，奈違君命。」 因躍馬冒圍至城下，張孝純不肯啟門，遂死之。
Sun Yi—by what means he rose to office is not recorded. At the end of the Xuanhe era, while serving as Observation Commissioner of Fuzhou he was appointed prefect of Shuoning Prefecture and ordered to relieve Taiyuan. The enemy's strength was then at its height. Some advised that he would do better to lead his troops north and strike Yunzhong, where the enemy generals' and soldiers' families lived—the classic strategy of attacking where the foe must surely come to the rescue. Yi said, "That plan is sound, but it would defy the sovereign's command." He leaped onto his horse, broke through the encirclement to the foot of the wall, and died there when Zhang Xiaochun refused to open the gate.
72
益天資忠勇，每傾貲以賞戰士，能得人死力。 小䩴䩮為邊患，遣將致討，益子在行間，師無功，益謂子必死。 朝廷聞之，恤錄其孤甚厚。 其子遣信至益所報平安，益怒其子不能死，以狀自列，盡上還官所賜，而斬其持書來者。
Yi was loyal and brave by nature. He regularly spent his own wealth to reward his soldiers and could win their utmost devotion even unto death. When the Xiaorenduo raided the frontier, he dispatched a general to punish them. Yi's son marched with the army. The campaign achieved nothing, and Yi declared that his son ought to have died. When the court heard of this, it granted his orphaned family generous relief and honors. His son sent a messenger to Yi's camp to report that he was safe. Enraged that his son had failed to die, Yi submitted a memorial stating the facts, returned every grant the court had bestowed, and executed the man who had brought the letter.
73
初，益在朔寧，察郡人孫谷可用，奏為掾屬，待之異于常僚。 益出師，屬以後事。 益死，敵騎來攻，且別命郡守。 眾議欲開關迎之，穀爭弗得，歎曰：「吾身已許國，又不忍負孫公之托，諸人不見容，是吾死所也。」 或舉刃脅之，無懾容，遂見殺。
Earlier, while Yi was in Shuoning, he recognized that Sun Gu, a man of the prefecture, was capable. He memorialized to appoint him as an aide and treated him with unusual favor. When Yi marched out, he entrusted the affairs that would follow to Sun Gu. After Yi died, enemy cavalry came to attack, and at the same time a separate appointment was made for a new prefect. The men debated opening the gates to welcome the new appointee. Gu argued in vain and sighed, "I have already pledged myself to the state, and I cannot bear to betray the trust Sun Gong placed in me. Since you will not have me, this is where I shall die." Someone raised a blade to threaten him. He showed no fear and was thereupon killed.